I was just cruising Harbor Freight and got a new tool cart. While I was there, I noticed the lack of extension bar choices. We all know Icon hasn’t come out with any yet and I’d be shocked if they did... because anyone who uses sockets certainly doesn’t ever need them, right? But I didn’t see any Quinn extensions and the only ones in Pittsburgh were an extra long 3 Pc set, a wobble set and a set of locking extension. So Pittsburgh doesn’t have any regular extensions in all 3 drive sizes in 3”, 6” or 10”? That’s seems absurd to me.
Is Harbor Freight afraid of extension bars?
- Thread starter Jtels85
- Start date
DFB
Well-known member
Just impact grade
https://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-drive-impact-extension-set-4-pc-67926.html
https://www.harborfreight.com/4-pc-12-in-drive-impact-socket-extension-set-67972.html
Really slimming down the selection lately
Didn't there used to be reducer impact extension bars also 1/2" to 3/8"
https://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-drive-impact-extension-set-4-pc-67926.html
https://www.harborfreight.com/4-pc-12-in-drive-impact-socket-extension-set-67972.html
Really slimming down the selection lately
Didn't there used to be reducer impact extension bars also 1/2" to 3/8"
I noticed that about breaker bars today.
They only had the Ikon brand 1/2" breaker for $50
I thought to myself, the days of $10 breaker bars may be over.
Glad I got mine when I did.
HF is going upscale. People want to pay 5x as much to feel like they get quality?
Be careful what you ask for. HF is more expensive than many tool brands now.
https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-Drive-25-in-Professional-Breaker-Bar-with-TPR-Grip-64821.html
They only had the Ikon brand 1/2" breaker for $50
I thought to myself, the days of $10 breaker bars may be over.
Glad I got mine when I did.
HF is going upscale. People want to pay 5x as much to feel like they get quality?
Be careful what you ask for. HF is more expensive than many tool brands now.
https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-Drive-25-in-Professional-Breaker-Bar-with-TPR-Grip-64821.html
Yeah, I noticed a lot of empty pegs, especially in the socket/ratchet aisle. Pittsburgh, Quinn and Icon. This store usually has **** falling off the pegs if you so much as breath on it. Today, that was not the case. I left there not really sure what was going on.
Some of their stuff is good and some of its junk. The inconsistency is what bothers me. Pittsburgh Pro sockets are a bargain for the DIY’er, nicely finished and fit fasteners nicely. Their wrenches though, straight up garbage. My dad has a set of Pittsburgh wrenches that were made in India and the open end spread on one while he was working on his travel trailer. He said of thousands of dollars he’s dropped at Harbor Freight on various things, he’s never been disappointed with anything from there until he used that wrench.
Some of their stuff is good and some of its junk. The inconsistency is what bothers me. Pittsburgh Pro sockets are a bargain for the DIY’er, nicely finished and fit fasteners nicely. Their wrenches though, straight up garbage. My dad has a set of Pittsburgh wrenches that were made in India and the open end spread on one while he was working on his travel trailer. He said of thousands of dollars he’s dropped at Harbor Freight on various things, he’s never been disappointed with anything from there until he used that wrench.
Parrothead
Well-known member
Yep, you can go buy the Performax random orbital sander for the same price (on sale) as the Bauer (with coupon), they’re the same item, and the Performax has a 2 year warranty.
joshmodelskidoo
Well-known member
I also noticed performax is often cheaper
Farmall450
Well-known member
Well having 8 brands of the same tools is eating up a lot of floor space...
Mine still has the cheap breaker bars; I bought one last Friday.
Mine still has the cheap breaker bars; I bought one last Friday.
Didn't there used to be reducer impact extension bars also 1/2" to 3/8"
Still listed here: https://www.harborfreight.com/long-impact-extensionadapter-3-pc-60409.html
seber
Well-known member
USA breaker bars are still all over garage sales for two or three dollars. It's not like there's a lot to go wrong with them.
lol
that is their biggest hold back, multiple brands but none of which have full compliment of range .
Pitts pro sat stagnant for years, earthquake battery line should of expanded bare tools years ago ...
DFB
Well-known member
Thanks
I'm starting is think that new search of HF is part of the problem with finding items.
I had searched twice found all the other extensions in the thread but that one didn't come up
Parrothead
Well-known member
That may be true, but then you have to go to garage sales. Digging through grannies underwear to find a breaker bar doesn’t appeal to me.
Parrothead
Well-known member
Haha. Glad to let you in on that secret.
I walked around our neighborhood garage sale last year (200+ homes) just to be out and social. Lots of junk. There’s 3 hours of my life I’ll never get back. I could fit every tool (if I’d have purchased) in my pocket. Heck, the number of lawnmowers for sale probably outnumbered the individual tools.
Point is I’d rather see my dentist than garage sale again. Yes, I’m sure there are garage sales that are better, and have the Craftsman block grinder, Wilton bullet, and Snap-on chest, but how many hours are involved in hunting those down and driving all over creation to get them?
Anything worth selling is on the NextDoor App or Facebook Marketplace anyway.
Bigblue&Goldie
Well-known member
I thought of this post today.....
I stopped in HF today to get a cheap breaker bar/socket setup to keep in my travel trailer for changing tires. I grabbed a $9.99 breaker bar. Got home, pulled the plastic hang tag off of it and the damn thing was 3/8" drive! I guess I'll be going back tomorrow for a $13.99 breaker bar.
https://www.harborfreight.com/12-in-drive-25-in-breaker-bar-67933.html
I think HF is riding on the perception that their tools are the cheapest in their category. It blows my mind what they are asking for their "Professional" and "Icon" breaker bars when you can get a 24in Proto for $37 (without a 20% off coupon) from Zoro.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Harbor Freight is probably more afraid of what their customers will do with extensions than the extensions themselves. 
Seriously though, Harbor Freight doesn't offer open stock of individual wrenches & sockets which to me, is insane.
Seriously though, Harbor Freight doesn't offer open stock of individual wrenches & sockets which to me, is insane.
Farmall450
Well-known member
I was surprised to still see earthquake cordless hidden by the air tools...they need to get on the same page w/ all of their tool buyers.
Cgw1984
Banned
Tell that to my proto breaker bar with the stuck in detent. Only tool ive ever had break on me.
Harbor Freight is probably more afraid of what their customers will do with extensions than the extensions themselves.
Seriously though, Harbor Freight doesn't offer open stock of individual wrenches & sockets which to me, is insane.
I couldn’t agree with you more. That’s one of the reasons why I loved Sears. If I needed a single size, I could get it without hassle.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
https://www.harborfreight.com/search?q=extension set
They do sell extensions, just not in chrome. I've used the wobble and standard ones for years, never broken one. I actually just used one today going a 1.4L Cruze oil pan, happy to have 1/2 drive wobbles I can put a universal on. I use the extensions on a daily basis, I purchased some Sunex on amazon-warehouse for when the HF eventually wear out.
They do sell extensions, just not in chrome. I've used the wobble and standard ones for years, never broken one. I actually just used one today going a 1.4L Cruze oil pan, happy to have 1/2 drive wobbles I can put a universal on. I use the extensions on a daily basis, I purchased some Sunex on amazon-warehouse for when the HF eventually wear out.